Dataset Information

Variation in gene expression patterns in effusions and primary tumors from serous ovarian cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While numerous studies have characterized primary ovarian tumors, little information is available regarding expression patterns of metastatic sites of this cancer. To define sets of genes that distinguish primary and metastatic ovarian tumors, we used cDNA microarrays to characterize global gene expression patterns in 38 effusions (28 peritoneal, 10 pleural) and 8 corresponding primary ovarian tumors, and searched for associations between expression patterns and clinical parameters.

Results

We observed multidimensional variation in expression patterns among the cancers. Coordinate variation in expression of genes from two chromosomal regions, 8q and 19q, was seen in subsets of the cancers indicating possible amplifications in these regions. A set of 112 unique genes of known function was differentially expressed between primary tumors and effusions using supervised analysis. Relatively few differences were seen between effusions isolated from the pleural and peritoneal cavities or between effusions from patients diagnosed with stage III and stage IV cancers. A set of 84 unique genes was identified that distinguished high from lower grade ovarian cancers. The results were corroborated using immunocytochemistry, mRNA in situ hybridization, and immunoblotting.

Conclusion

The extensive variation in expression patterns observed underscores the molecular heterogeneity of ovarian cancer, but suggests a similar molecular profile for ovarian carcinoma cells in serosal cavities.

SUBMITTER: Schaner ME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1236614 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Variation in gene expression patterns in effusions and primary tumors from serous ovarian cancer patients.

Schaner Marci E ME Davidson Ben B Skrede Martina M Reich Reuven R Flørenes Vivi Ann VA Risberg Björn B Berner Aasmund A Goldberg Iris I Givant-Horwitz Vered V Tropè Claes G CG Kristensen Gunnar B GB Nesland Jahn M JM Børresen-Dale Anne-Lise AL

Molecular cancer 20050721

<h4>Background</h4>While numerous studies have characterized primary ovarian tumors, little information is available regarding expression patterns of metastatic sites of this cancer. To define sets of genes that distinguish primary and metastatic ovarian tumors, we used cDNA microarrays to characterize global gene expression patterns in 38 effusions (28 peritoneal, 10 pleural) and 8 corresponding primary ovarian tumors, and searched for associations between expression patterns and clinical param ...[more]

PMID: 16042759

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Project description:The presence of tumor cells in effusions within serosal cavities is a clinical manifestation of advanced-stage cancer and is generally associated with poor survival. Identifying molecular targets may help to design efficient treatments to eradicate these aggressive cancer cells and improve patient survival. Using a state-of-the-art Taqman-based qRT-PCR assay, we investigated the multidrug resistance (MDR) transcriptome of 32 unpaired ovarian serous carcinoma effusion samples obtained at diagnosis or at disease recurrence following chemotherapy. MDR genes were selected a priori based on an extensive curation of the literature published during the last three decades. We found three gene signatures with a statistically significant correlation with overall survival (OS), response to treatment (complete response - CR vs. other), and progression free survival (PFS). The median log-rank p-values for the signatures were 0.023, 0.034, and 0.008, respectively. No correlation was found with residual tumor status after cytoreductive surgery, treatment (with or without chemotherapy) and stage defined according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Further analyses demonstrated that gene expression alone can effectively predict the survival outcome of women with ovarian serous carcinoma (OS: log-rank p=0.0000 and PFS: log-rank p=0.002). Interestingly, the signature for overall survival is the same in patients at first presentation and those who had chemotherapy and relapsed. This pilot study highlights two new gene signatures that may help in optimizing the treatment for ovarian carcinoma patients with effusions. In the study presented here, effusion samples were obtained from 32 patients diagnosed with serous ovarian carcinoma (n=25), primary peritoneal serous carcinoma (n=6) or tubal serous carcinoma (n=1). They were accrued at the Division of Pathology in the Norwegian Radium Hospital from 2000-2006. RNA was used to study the expression profile of 381 multidrug resistant-related genes.

Project description:Ovarian tumors of low malignant potential and low-grade ovarian serous carcinomas are thought to represent different stages on a tumorigenic continuum and to develop along pathways distinct from high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma. We performed gene expression profiling on three normal human ovarian surface epithelia samples, and 10 low-grade and 10 high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas. Analysis of gene expression profiles of these samples has identified 80 genes upregulated and 232 genes downregulated in low-grade ovarian serous carcinomas. PAX2 was found to be one of the most upregulated genes in low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma. The upregulation of PAX2 was validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Real-time RT-PCR showed a statistically significant difference in PAX2 mRNA expression (expressed as fold change in comparison to normal human ovarian surface epithelia) among ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (1837.38, N=8), low-grade (183.12, N=17), and high-grade (3.72, N=23) carcinoma samples (P=0.015). Western blot analysis revealed strong PAX2 expression in ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (67%, N=3) and low-grade carcinoma samples (50%, N=10) but no PAX2 protein expression in high-grade carcinomas (0%, N=10). Using immunohistochemistry, tumors of low malignant potential (59%, N=17) and low-grade carcinoma (63%, N=16) samples expressed significantly stronger nuclear staining than high-grade ovarian carcinoma samples (9.1%, N=263). Furthermore, consistent with earlier immunohistochemical findings, PAX2 expression was expressed in the epithelial cells of fallopian tubes but not in normal ovarian surface epithelial cells. Our findings further support the two-tiered hypothesis that tumors of low malignant potential and low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma are on a continuum and are distinct from high-grade ovarian carcinomas. In addition, the absence of PAX2 expression in normal ovarian epithelia but expression in fallopian tube fimbria and ciliated epithelial inclusions would suggest the potential development of tumors of low malignant potential and of low-grade ovarian serous carcinomas from secondary Müllerian structures.

Dataset Information

Variation in gene expression patterns in effusions and primary tumors from serous ovarian cancer patients.

Background

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Variation in gene expression patterns in effusions and primary tumors from serous ovarian cancer patients.

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